Wednesday's forecast: Severe storms Ohio Valley, West

May 21, 2014
|

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Powerful storms will dump heavy rain and even some hail in the Midwest, Northeast and a few spots in the West, while fierce heat will bake much of the South.

East: Heavy rain and thunderstorms will pelt the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Wednesday. Severe weather could lash portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, with the biggest threats in cities such as Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Washington.

Southern Tier: High heat and blazing sunshine will scorch the Southwest, southern Plains and Southeast as temperatures shoot up into the upper 80s and 90s.

West: More thunderstorms are forecast from the Sierras to the central and northern Rockies and into the central Plains. Some of the storms could reach severe levels in eastern Colorado (including Denver) and western Kansas.

Weather history for May 21: In 1957, the worst tornado in Kansas City's history hit the city, killing 45 and leaving hundreds homeless. In 1992, Atlantic City hit a record low of 28 degrees.

In 2002, Fairbanks reached a record high of 82 degrees. In 2007, 11 inches of snow fell in Georgetown, Mont.